<p>I plan on applying to engineering graduate programs this upcoming fall and had a quick question.</p>
<p>Is it easier to get into a grad school if you are only applying for a terminal masters degree versus applying with the goal of obtaining a PhD? </p>
<p>Now I realize at most schools you cannot directly apply to the PhD programs but they do ask what the highest degree you hope to obtain is so I was wondering if that had any weight in the process. I was thinking it might (but I could be wrong) since they are probably not going to give you funding if you are only seeking a masters degree.</p>
<p>I was in the same boat as you. From the schools I looked into a lot did have direct phd programs. This is what I came up with while I was in the admissions process. Most of the schools I checked out requires a 3.5+ for phd admissions. If you have over that then go ahead and apply as direct phd. Ask the admissions people just in case, but most likely if you get rejected from the phd program then they'll also consider you for the masters. Applying for direct phd also shows "commitment" which they like to see. Its also a plus to write phd as your highest degree you want to attain. They want smart and cheap labor and phd students are the source of it. Admissions into the masters program is easier so apply for that if your GPA isn't too competitive.</p>
<p>what? I thought applying to a masters program is a lot harder because they see the students there as having a lot less commitment than phd candidates. If my GPA is in the range of 3.2-3.5, then would it be better to apply for masters or PhD?</p>
<p>yep. although if you take this route you shouldn't lead your professor on. you can always do this. just pass the phd qualifying exam (easier said then done) and you got yourself a masters. other options for phd students looking for a masters: master's thesis, classes, etc.</p>
<p>It all depends on the field. In my field, it is very common to get a MS at one school and then apply to complete the PhD at a different school. It isn't frowned upon or seem like you are skipping out on a professor, its just getting to know different research styles at different universities. Then again, my field is also one of the choice few that doesn't require the PhD to gain fruitful employment (many times pays more than the PhD).</p>
<p>It was easier for me to get into MS programs than PhD programs straight out of undergrad. I believe the reason is that I had a very unfocused research interest in undergrad but it became ridicously focued during my MS work and it gave me a leg up in PhD admissions.</p>
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what? I thought applying to a masters program is a lot harder because they see the students there as having a lot less commitment than phd candidates.
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<p>Nah. Except in rare circumstances, it is almost always harder to get into a PhD program than into the corresponding master's program. After all, as explained above, the PhD basically acts as a superset of the master's program in the sense that plenty of people enter PhD programs and then leave with just the master's, even because they get tired of the PhD process, they realize they can't do it, or they intended to get the master's all along. </p>
<p>The other major factor is that PhD students tend to get funded at a far higher rate than do master's students. That's why PhD admissions tend to be far more competitive. Of course, if your PhD program is unfunded, then this is no longer a factor.</p>
<p>yea, sakky, that's exactly what i mean. Since the PhD students are better funded, there's more of a chance for phd students to be accepted than masters students right?</p>
<p>Huh? How does it funding mean that there would be a greater chance of being accepted? Logic would dictate that the OPPOSITE would be true - that because PhD students tend to be funded at greater rates than masters students, that means that it's easier for masters students to get admitted. That's because the department knows full well that they have to pay to support the PhD student, whereas the masters student will be paying the department. Since there's obviously only a limited amount of money, that means that you will want to fund only your most promising candidates. Masters students have to meet a lower threshold, because you're probably not funding them. </p>
<p>Just think of it in terms of undergrad admissions vis-a-vis merit scholarships. Schools don't give out merit scholarships to everybody. Only the best candidates will receive a merit scholarship. So if I, as an adcom officer, see a candidate who I think is really really good, then I will not only admit that student, but also offer that student a merit scholarship. Another candidate who isn't quite as good will probably be offered only admission, but no scholarship. And of course a bad candidate will simply be rejected. But the point is, those scholarships are reserved for the best candidates.</p>